How can i get my son to eat???

Question

My son is 2 going on 3 and refuses to eat anyhting that is put in front of him. It is getting quite annoying considering he only wants to drink from his sippy all day or eat candy and treats. I try to limit the treats and offer healthy foods, but all he seems to like is the bad stuff. He can go all day with out eating a bite of food, I get worried that my son has developed an eating disorder, but he is only 2! I am banging my head against a wall here! I try the finger foods, offering treats, eating with him making it seem yummy, i serve many different choices, but i am not a short order cook. I have even tried not caring and thinking he will eat when he wants, but again all he wants is candy and treats.

I again stress that i do not keep lots of treats in my home, and what i do keep in the house I keep in my bedroom, so please no smartass remarks saying that I have an eating disorder because well sweeties i am pregnant, and the only treats i have are frozen fruit bars for myself.

Answer 1

Your child will not starve himself. Don't worry about that. Continue what you are doing. Make sure you offer him 3-4 meals a day with different types of veggies and grains. My son always preferred pasta at that age.

I wouldn't give him any candy--it's all sugar. But other treats are okay..such as peanut butter crackers and nilla wafers. Try to only offer him a snack twice a day, rather than whenever he wants. You can always make him sit in his high-chair (if he still uses one) for snacks.. so that he can't munch all day.. and not be hungry for meals.

He has definitely not developed an eating disorder.. not at this age. But, if you force him to eat (as others suggest) he might develop one eventually.

It sounds like you are doing fine to me.

Answer 2

First of all you say you try to limit the treats then you say you don't have any in your home...Which is it? Of course all a child wants is candy and treats...that's NORMAL. Offer ONLY healthy foods. Do NOT bring ANY treats into the home period. That way there is no temptation. Secondly if he doesn't eat for an entire day he doesn't eat. The next day he will eat. Also have him become a part of the meal planning and preparing. Let HIM help pick out the things that will go on the menu. Let HIM take the vegetables out of the fridge to be washed, let HIM wash them. Show him how to use a measuring cup, make up silly rhymes while preparing the meal, make it a fun thing to do and get him INTERESTED in the meal.

Answer 3

Cheat.
Very lightly dip fruit into melted chocolate- so that there is a very thin coating on it- and that's one way of getting something healthy into him.

Other than that, tell him there IS NO CANDY in the house and you can't buy any, because the shops won't sell it to little boys who don't eat their dinner.
He only wants the candy and treats because they are there- so if they aren't there, he will eventually eat the yummy stuff that mummy and daddy are eating.
Try not to offer too much choice though, that will confuse him.
I know it's frustrating, but you can get through this and you will be sitting wondering one day 'What on Earth was I so worried about?' because whilst it seems never-ending now, it will only last a short while when looking back on it.

Answer 4

Here's the deal... I haven't read a lot of the other messages that people have left you, but it's like this...

Cut the treats (which you said you don't keep around the house) and avoid constant snacking throughout the day (you may do that as well).

Kids have a knack about eating when they are hungry. If your son doesn't want food, don't force him to eat it. My kids probably eat "really" well once every three days or so... the other days, they just pick at or don't eat their food at all. Remember, you are in control of the situation, but with the responsibility of being in control, comes the responsibility that when they eat, it must be a balanced diet.

Other than that, I know it's aggrevating seeing all the food you throw away every day but, like I said, when your child is hungry, he'll eat...

Answer 5

How long has this been going on? My 2 year old daughter was doing this and it lasted for about 2 months. She would eat very, very little (but she drank tons of milk). I eventually found out she would eat soup in huge quantities, which was a big relief. I was able to start reintroducing her to foods after that, slowly. Her favorite is noodles.

All I can say is keep at it. He'll outgrow it. Tell him no treats until he has two bites of dinner, and keep increasing the amount from there. I know that's really not much to go on, but that's what worked for me.

Good luck. Oh, and try to sneak some vitamins into his sippy so you won't worry so much.

Answer 6

I think it is a huge mistake to force someone to eat. He is supposed to learn about his body and appetite. Cut out the candy, just don't make it available for a few weeks. No treats, nothing but high quality nutrition. It will not kill him to skip a few meals.

In the long term, teach him that if he wants candy or treat, he must review the food groups he's consumed for the day, see what else he needs, make sure he's had fruit, and then and only when he's met his requirements can he have the treat food.

p.s. our pediatrician thought milkshakes are a terrific, nutritious food - and are great with bananas, strawberries, etc whipped in.

Answer 7

I don't think he has an eating disorder, however if you force him to eat, he may develop an eating disorder in the future. Continue offering him healthy things to eat, but cut out the bad stuff. Sooner or later, he'll eat something. My sister is having the same problem. Will he eat cereal of any kind? Her doctor said cereal is great thing to give fussy kids.

Also, can you give him healthy snacks that he would consider a treat, like yogurt or fruit cups? Keep trying. Something will work.

Answer 8

I understand it is pretty typical to cycle several days of not eating much followed by several days of eating. my daughter certainly does this. I try not to get too worked up if she eats nothing. She once went a whole weekend on a mini carrot and a chicken nugget. (ok she probably ate some cereal in there somewhere.) But then she will return to eating again. She doesn't get after dinner treat if she doesn't eat, but we try hard not to treat it as a reward or punishment. It is just that she can't have sweets if she doesn't have room.
Like your son, she does drink a lot, which I gather is a no no if you are really worried.
Anyway, try to average her food over a few days instead of meal by meal or even day by day. Oh -- and try getting him to 'cook' with you and/or pick out food.
I did know a kid who wouldn't eat until she passed out! Then you worry. But if that isn't happening you sound like you are mostly doing ok.

Answer 9

Sorry to say,
but hes going sweet and spoiled.

You must train him, but it wont happen over night.
First, try letting him pick out healthy foods. Since he seems to have a sweet tooth, I'd intruduce him into simple smoothies and friut. If he's well around people take him food shopping with you. Make it into a game. Help him choose good and healthy. Dont tell what something is, just walk around, pick it up, look at it. and put it back. He'll probably copy you. He may even want it.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

Don't let him drink juice all day. Give him milk and juice during meals only, and water the rest of the day. Get rid of the treats until you get his eating back on track. Don't bribe him to eat. Just put him at the table with the rest of the family and expect him to eat. After a day without juice and treats he should be pretty hungry.